No. 18. SIOUX AGENCY, September 24, 1857. SIR: I have the honor to transmit my annual report. When I took possession of this agency, in October last, I found everything quiet and in good order; the Indians were, however, laboring under the difficulty of having lost their crops from a hail-storm that swept over the country during the summer of 1856. The winter was coming on, and there were no means of subsisting the Indians on their reservation; the consequence of this was, that many of them were again compelled to return to the lands ceded to the whites. The extra amount of provisions which were received during that winter prevented much suffering that would otherwise have occurred. It must be remembered that these Indians have subsisted almost entirely by the chase, and before the treaty of 1851 occupied an extensive and excellent country, abounding in game and fish, and that since that treaty they have been collected upon a reservation entirely destitute of game of any kind, and are necessarily compelled to depend entirely upon agriculture for a subsistence; so that when any accident happens to their crops, as was the case in 1856, they are deprived of any means of support except their annuities or a return to the neighborhood of the white settlements. The advance of the whites on the frontier has been so rapid in Minnesota that the hunting grounds of the Indians have been taken from them before they have had time to become fully domesticated upon their reservations. This circumstance influenced to a considerable extent the pacification which took place last winter between the Sioux and Chippewas, the results of which have been beneficial to both tribes. About the only section of country which remained untaken by the whites last winter was a forest known as the "Big Wood," lying between the Sioux and Chippewas countries, where the hunters of both tribes were compelled to resort for game. Finding each other there, and knowing that an attack from either side would effectually destroy the hunting of both for the winter, they, from motives of policy more than a desire for peace, met and smoked together, made peace, and hunted together during the winter. There has been no war among them this season, until about three weeks ago, when the news arrived at the agency that the scalp of a Sioux had been taken by the Chippewas near Lac Traverse. It has been my policy to foster this good feeling between the two tribes, and think that with prudence it may be preserved. The principal work done during the winter was getting out sawlogs for the mills, and fencing stuff; about two thousand logs were cut and taken to the mills, and a large amount of fencing material prepared. Everything was going on quietly and well, when, about the 18th day of March, 1857, the news of the Spirit lake massacre reached the agency. An expedition was fitted out by the commanding officer at Fort Ridgley, which I accompanied part of the way, the result of which and the details of the matter have been fully presented in special reports on that subject made by myself and by the officers of the army who took part in it. There being four white women in the possession of the Indians as prisoners, the sympathies of our citizens were naturally enlisted in their behalf, and the legislature of the Territory of Minnesota appropriated the sum of ten thousand dollars for their recovery. The governor of the Territory requested my assistance in the matter, and through the medium of some of our friendly Indians we succeeded in rescuing two of them. The expenses of outfitting expeditions, rewarding Indians for their services in the matter, and other items incident to the successful prosecution of the enterprise, amounted to over five thousand dollars. I mention this subject as one of the incidents of the year, and also because I think these expenses should be borne by the United States, and am requested to report them by the authorities of the Territory. As spring opened I made extensive preparations for farming; purchased large quantities of seed of all kinds, and determined that the Indians should have a chance if they would improve it; but the lateness of the spring in opening prevented us from preparing quite as much land as we otherwise would have done, and all the Indians who desired to plant were furnished with the means, and a larger amount of potatoes, corn, wheat, &c., was put in than ever before. The crops prospered well until about the first week in August, when swarms of grasshoppers came from the direction of the Upper Mississippi, where they had been eating up everything before them, and swept over our country, doing a great deal of damage. Two fields of fine spring wheat, of about one hundred acres, were entirely eaten up; the potatoes, onions, and other vegetables, were considerably damaged, but not totally detroyed, and the corn was to some extent injured. There remains, however, considerable quantities for the Indians, and, together with their fall payments, they may get through the winter without suffering. On the 2d of July we heard of the presence of some of the Indians who had been engaged in the Spirit lake affair, and fitted out a small expedition of soldiers, two of our own men and some half-breeds, and succeeded in finding and killing one of Ink-pa-du-ta's sons above the Yellow Medicine river. The affair created considerable excitement among the Indians, and being just at the time that the Yanctons, Cut-heads, and other Indians from the plains make their annual visit to the agency, to interrupt the payments, and get what they can from the annuities, our Indians became quite unruly, and evinced a decided sympathy for the man we had killed. The almost defenceless condition of the country emboldened the Indians, and matters at one time looked as if a serious disturbance was inevitable; but the arrival of troops from the Missouri, and the presence of Sherman's battery, fortunately prevented a collison. The payments were suspended; and in order to regain the position their bad conduct had lost them, the Indians volunteered to go in search of the murderers, and succeeded in killing four men; and several women and children were drowned by fleeing into the lake in the night. 2 The payments have since been made, and all has resumed the quiet and orderly course that is customary about the agency. I have nearly completed the agency building, which will cost about three thousand dollars when done. These are the most important events which have occurred during the year. It is a matter of great regret that every attempt to put the schools provided for in the treaty into operation, is, for some reason, frustrated. I submitted a report on the system best calculated to benefit the Indians, together with plans of school-houses, and commenced getting out timber for the erection of the buildings, when I was interrupted by instructions from the superintendent, Huebschman, that my plans were "not wholly approved," and I was ordered to desist; since which time nothing has been done, and the school system is no further advanced than it was at the time of the treaty. The fund has now accumulated to such a considerable amount that it seems really wrong that the Indians, with a desire to learn, and sufficient means to satisfy that desire, should not have schools established among them. I adhere to my plan as proposed, as being the most successful, and recommend that the agent be permitted to put it in operation immediately. I established a small school at the Yellow Medicine agency, and kept it in operation during the winter. It was attended by about sixteen scholars on an average, and I hope did some good; but, without a permanent opportunity for the children to attend, very little can be expected in the way of improvement. I think about five thousand dollars of that school fund could be expended very judiciously in the purchase of provisions for both the upper and lower Sioux for consumption this winter, and help them through, as they complain bitterly that the money is allowed to accumulate and avails them nothing. It will be absolutely necessary that some measures should be taken to prevent the Yanctons from interfering in the payments of the Sisitons and Wahpetons. The reason of their coming to these payments, and the ground of their claim, is as follows: When the treaty of Traverse des Sioux was made, the Sisitons and Wahpetons were called upon to sell certain lands, which they admitted did not belong to them, and declined selling, and were told that they were only to sell their right in the lands. This they consented to. These lands belonged to the Yanctons, or they had some claim on them; and the lands are now regarded as ceded lands, and the Yanctons claim a right to a share in the annuities, and every payment that has been made has been protracted and disturbed by the presence of these Indians. I recommend that a treaty be made with them for the purchase of their lands west of the "Big Sioux river," and their being placed on a reservation, or removed north and west. The country west of the "Big Sioux' will soon be demanded by the whites for settlement, and the sooner it is purchased the less trouble the whites will have to get rid of the Indians and take possession of it. I regard it as necessary to the prosperity of our Indians that the influence of these Yanctons. should be withdrawn from them; and the best way to do it is to put the Yanctons under annuities, and settle the difficulties that exist between them. Many of the Med-a-wah-kan-to-ans, and Wah-pa-ku-tis are desirous of breaking up their tribal relations and cultivating lands in severalty. They see the rapid progress of those who have adopted such a course, and are anxious to see it prevail generally among them. I would suggest that a treaty be made with them by which every head of a family can take and hold as his individual property eighty or one hundred and sixty acres of land, and use it without the interference of any one else. I would also suggest that this treaty be made in Washington; and I think this would be preferable for several reasons. In the first place, the old and sound men of the tribes would have a better opportunity of expressing their views when relieved from the influence of their young men ; and again, I deem it highly important that some of these Indians, and also the Sisitons and Wahpetons, should visit the east, in order that they may get some idea of the force and numbers of the whites, as they cannot and do not believe that the strength of the whites is greater than they have seen themselves, or that the army extends beyond those troops they see about the neighboring posts. To disabuse their minds on these subjects will be productive of good results in future, as the recent difficulties were enhanced undoubtedly by their ignorance on these points. In leaving the charge of this agency, I am glad to be able to congratulate the Indian department upon its future conduct falling into such competent hands as my successor, Mr. Joseph R. Brown; his profound knowledge of Indian matters, his tried fidelity in all the important public trusts which he has filled, are a sufficient guaranty for the success and prosperity of the Sioux in future. With much respect, sir, I am your most obedient servant, CHARLES E. FLANDRAU, WILLIAM J. CULLEN, Esq., Superintendent Indian Affairs. United States Agent for Sioux. No. 19. SIOUX AGENCY, September 24, 1857. SIR: I have the honor to present my annual report of the farming operations at this place since the first of April, when I took charge. Here follows a synopsis of work done: New farms opened-to wit: one field, addition to Star's.. Twelve farms for individuals, of four acres each.... One farm for individuals, of five acres..... One farm for individuals, of two acres..... Houses built. 1 frame house for Chief Little Crow. 1 log house for Chief Wabesha. 1 log house for Chief Shackpé. 10 log houses for individuals of different bands. 220 tons of hay. I have to report the entire failure of our wheat and corn, the former being cut off by the grasshoppers while yet green, and the latter being destroyed by the grasshoppers, the hail, and the blackbirds. Of potatoes we shall have an average crop, but not being yet harvested I cannot say how much they will yield. However, I expect to store away about a thousand bushels. Ruta bagas shared the fate of the wheat. The backwardness of the spring allowing but a short space of time for ploughing and planting, and the poor condition of the teams caused by the severity and length of the winter, prevented us from ploughing all the lands under cultivation. Many of the Indians who received ploughs and harness ploughed their own fields, so that there was only a small part of the land left unploughed, and that being part of the oldest lands was very mellow and in good order for planting. In addition to the amount of work above stated, there has been built at the agency a frame house for the accommodation of the employés during the summer months. The warehouse has been repaired, and the fences also required very extensive repairs. I am happy to state that the Indians show a marked advance in agriculture during the past year, although the excitement caused by the unsettled state of affairs and the several expeditions against the Spirit lake murderers have been great drawbacks to their industry. Yours, respectfully, JAMES MAGNER, Farmer for Lower Sioux. SIR: In order that you may have information of the recent Indian murders perpetrated in this Territory, I enclose herewith a copy of |